Why have one Realtor

when you can have The Council?

The Council Real Estate Group was founded on a premise that transformed how we operate: no single agent can be simultaneously exceptional at design, negotiation, and financial analysis. The best outcomes for buyers and sellers require specialized expertise applied at every stage. We built a team where each member does what they do best — so our clients experience all three disciplines at their highest expression, in every transaction.

Affiliated with Compass RE Texas — the most technology-forward real estate brokerage in the country — The Council combines the resources of a national platform with the deeply local expertise that only comes from three agents spending their entire careers in the Westlake, Cuernavaca, and Eanes ISD market.

Holly McCormick

Realtor · Lead Negotiator · 20+ Years

(512) 699-5590

Holly McCormick has spent more than two decades mastering the specific dynamics of the Westlake luxury real estate market. Her negotiation record — built over hundreds of transactions in 78746 and 78733 — represents a level of local knowledge and tactical skill that is genuinely uncommon in any real estate market, let alone one as specialized as Westlake.

Holly’s negotiation philosophy is grounded in preparation and principle. Before any offer is made or received, she has analyzed the specific leverage points in the transaction, the seller’s or buyer’s motivation, the competitive dynamics, and the history of similar situations in this market. She knows what a 60-day Westlake listing reveals about seller psychology. She knows how to structure escalation clauses that win without overpaying. She knows when a concession on closing timing creates more value than a concession on price.

Holly also brings 20+ years of Eanes ISD boundary expertise — an invaluable resource for families whose school district assignment is non-negotiable and who need absolute certainty that the home they’re purchasing will deliver the enrollment they expect.

Natasha Antonioni

Realtor & Intentional Designer

(512) 988-1741

Natasha is the creative force behind The Council’s design-driven approach to real estate. A Realtor with deep roots in the Westlake and Cuernavaca markets, Natasha brings a designer’s eye to every listing and buyer consultation. Her proprietary Intentional Design methodology — codified in her soon-to-be-published book of the same name — has transformed how luxury properties in the Westlake market are presented and sold.

Natasha’s process begins with understanding the narrative a home should tell — not generically, but specifically for the buyer profile most likely to fall in love with it and pay a premium. The result: staged properties that feel discovered rather than decorated, marketing photography that captures genuine aspiration, and sale outcomes that consistently exceed comparable listings.

Natasha represents both buyers and sellers, and her design expertise is equally valuable on the buy side — helping clients evaluate renovation potential, understand the true cost of bringing a home to their vision, and avoid costly purchases where structure or layout limitations would prevent them from achieving their goals.

Albina Rippy

Realtor, entrepreneur, digital marketing expert

(713) 443-6466

Albina Rippy

Albina Rippy is a serial entrepreneur, former CPA, and Co-Founder of The Council Real Estate Group. Throughout her career, she has built, scaled, and successfully exited multiple businesses, combining financial intelligence with visionary leadership, innovative marketing, and an ability to anticipate opportunities before they become obvious.

Her background in accounting and finance provides clients with a level of analytical expertise rarely found in residential real estate. Every pricing recommendation, negotiation strategy, and investment analysis is grounded in data, market trends, and sound financial principles. But Albina believes that exceptional real estate decisions require more than numbers alone. They require intuition, experience, creativity, and the ability to recognize the unique story and potential behind every property.

Known for blending strategic thinking with genuine connection, Albina has earned a reputation for helping buyers, sellers, and investors make confident decisions in some of Austin’s most desirable communities, including Westlake, Cuernavaca, and throughout Eanes ISD. Whether advising a luxury homeowner, first-time buyer, or seasoned investor, she approaches every transaction with the mindset of a trusted business advisor rather than simply a real estate agent.

A lifelong learner at heart, Albina is deeply committed to personal and professional growth. She continually studies emerging market trends, consumer behavior, negotiation strategy, digital marketing, leadership, and technology to ensure her clients benefit from the most current insights and innovative approaches available. Her entrepreneurial mindset drives her to question conventional thinking, embrace new ideas, and constantly refine the systems and strategies that create exceptional results.

Before real estate, Albina founded and successfully exited several successful companies in the wellness and hospitality industries, experiences that shaped her leadership philosophy and strengthened her ability to build businesses, solve complex challenges, and serve clients with integrity. Today, she brings that same entrepreneurial spirit, financial acumen, and forward-thinking approach to every client relationship, helping people make smart real estate decisions while creating lives they truly love.